HC Deb 19 January 1989 vol 145 cc269-70W
Mr. Caborn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will set a timetable by which they will attain the United Nations recommendation that donor countries' aid to the Third world should constitute 0.7 per cent. of gross national product.

Mr. Chris Patten

Like previous administrations, Her Majesty's Government are not able to set a timetable for attaining this target. Progress towards the target depends on developments in the economy and other claims on resources. We have a substantial aid programme which is now growing in real terms.

Sir John Stanley

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the estimated amounts of(a) principal and (b) interest due to be remitted to the Government by overseas aid debtor countries in 1989–90; and what were the amounts actually remitted for the last three years for which figures are available.

Mr. Chris Patten

In 1989–90, repayments of past aid loans due to Her Majesty's Government amount to £63,148,015 (principal) and £11,424,790 (interest). Actual receipts for the latest three financial years for which figures are available are:

Principal

£

Interest

£

1987–88 53,121,271 9,463,464
1986–87 53,349,990 10,247,424
1985–86 56,077,690 11,139,158

Sir John Stanley

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the planned overseas aid budget of £1,430 million in 1989–90 includes or excludes the estimated amounts of(a) principal and (b) interest due to be remitted to the Government by overseas aid debtor countries in that year.

Mr. Chris Patten

The planned overseas aid budget of £1,430 million in 1989–90 excludes any principal repayment or interest payment due to Her Majesty's Government from past aid loans in that year.

Forward to